i use windows 7 daily and i never navigate through the start menu programs to find anything. seriously, simply pressing the win key and then typing/searching is way faster. Works the same way in metro too..

Not if you are trying to fire up non-metro stuff. Unless they have changed that in 8.1.

Actually, standard deskop applications can be launched by pressing Windows key, typing the name of it, and hitting enter as of the release of Windows8. Just because it's launching from the "metro" start screen doesn't mean it's bound to that.

As to the person who stated about incompatibilities I've yet to really see any besides the drivers for my Corsair headset in Windows 8.1 Games all run fine (seriously, haven't had an issue with ANY of them yet), drivers all work fine, and the operating system is just a hint snappier and some games will start seeing performance boosts (BF4, for example) by running the latest iteration of the operating system.

It really stems back to irrational fear of change. You fear that it's going to be awful, your mind automatically sees awful instead of being open to the new platform, and you knee-jerk revolt to what's going on with the new operating system. It REALLY is not bad.

Common complaints:

1. Start Screen! OMG! - Just be a power user. Windows key, type your program hit enter. If that doesn't work, download Start8 for free (which I didn't do just so I was forced to use new UI and acclimate). With Windows 8.1 you can auto launch to desktop at bootup by simply modifying a simple setting.

2. Everything is square. - In Windows7 everything was bubble. Nothing more manly than bubbles. I like clean edges, so Windows 8 looks nicer to me.

Windows 8 does very little badly, and many things very well. If you run Multiple monitors, you're doing yourself a disservice by not running Windows 8. It's multi monitor options/support is awesome out of the box. It basically has all the functionality of UltraMon for Windows 7 but without installing an additional program. To those stating that you shouldn't "have to install a program to make the start menu the same", why should you have to install a program to make mutli monitor the same? 6 in 1, half dozen in the other.

But yea, once again... to each their own. Not forcing my style of computing, simply presenting information based on my opinion as someone that uses both daily. My work machines are Windows7 and a few Windows XP machines, and my home PC is Windows 8.1.

Not if you are trying to fire up non-metro stuff. Unless they have changed that in 8.1.

nope. I use both 7 and 8, they work essentially the same as an app launcher. in 8 it defaulted search to apps (including "desktop" apps). 8.1 expands Apps to other categories like files, web search, etc.Edited by ez12a - 11/3/13 at 12:27pm

Not sure how productivity changes between w7 and w8. The fact that you even used those images to compare the two shows me that you haven't had enough time to figure that out...or just a poor attempt at trying to make wjndows 7 look ripe for complicated tasks while w8 is just a glorified menu...

i use windows 7 daily and i never navigate through the start menu programs to find anything. seriously, simply pressing the win key and then typing/searching is way faster. Works the same way in metro too..

Not if you are trying to fire up non-metro stuff. Unless they have changed that in 8.1.

Huh? I've launched desktop apps like that since 8 came out. Only thing that was broken-ish was that control panel type items are separated (which they did fix in 8).

Not if you are trying to fire up non-metro stuff. Unless they have changed that in 8.1.

Since when was it limited to just metro stuff? Search steam, and itll bring up the steam.exe, type chrome, and it'll bring up the desktop chrome icon, notepad, calc, word, etc etc. Even games works fine.

What's different about Start>All Programs>Firefox vs Start>Firefox? Yea it takes up the whole screen but it goes away right after

You prefer clicking more times?

I use the task menu for opening an Internet browser, so it's available at my start screen, which is just as quick as Windows 8. Anyways, I prefer the layout and functionality of the Windows 7 start menu more than the Windows 8.1 metro start menu-- metro ruins it for me.Edited by whitingnick - 11/3/13 at 12:52pm

Not sure how productivity changes between w7 and w8. The fact that you even used those images to compare the two shows me that you haven't had enough time to figure that out...or just a poor attempt at trying to make wjndows 7 look ripe for complicated tasks while w8 is just a glorified menu...

And what apps are causing you this headache?

The pdf reader.
I multitask and I need to have multiple programs open for that not one in nearly full screen and one so small I can't see it that doesn't help me one bit.

yes, most people do use their old programs for things still. and they still work the same way they always have. the new pdf reader, while I don't use it personally, is simply windows having more things out of the box, that like everything else, is completely optional to use (kind of like windows media player, or notepad.. a lot of people never use those and install VLC and notepad++ as soon as they install OS) I see that you are using Google Chrome but not complaining that windows comes with IE by default . you showed me pictures of 2 different things that are completely unrelated. at the basics, the start screen is just the menu but larger. I cannot fathom how that alone would be a reason to not use windows 8 considering all the speed improvements and all.. things that help productivity, no?